Digitally controlled dynamic lens

Abstract

A digitally controlled lens system is disclosed. In some embodiments, the lens system includes a controller and an electro-optic lens electrically connected to the controller. The electro-optic lens includes a first substantially transparent substrate; a first electrode layer disposed on the first substantially transparent substrate, the first electrode layer including a plurality of electrodes; a second substantially transparent substrate; a second electrode layer disposed on the second substantially transparent substrate; and a liquid crystal layer located between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. The controller is configured to generate a refractive index pattern of liquid crystal layer by controlling voltage applied on the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present disclosure generally relates to digitally controlled dynamic lenses, and more particularly, to a liquid crystal lens with a focusing capability that can be dynamically changed by controlling an electric field applied to the lens.BACKGROUND[0002]Lenses are used for bending the direction of a light beam. Conventional lenses have fixed shapes. They are made by radially shaping materials like glass and plastics that exhibit a constant refractive index. Diffraction-limited performance can be achieved using precise shaping and polishing, but is often not achievable within the economic design constraints placed on the optical systems of many consumer products. Typically, such systems have undesirable optical distortions or aberrations that are corrected using more than one lens group, commonly having spherical elements. The system can be simplified by replacing several spherical lenses with a high-quality aspheric lens with a parabolic profile, but that gen...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The liquid crystal lens provides a compact, low-power, and efficient solution for dynamically changing focal lengths and beam steering, suitable for applications like portable cameras and 3D displays, with improved optical performance and reduced size and weight compared to conventional lenses.

Problems solved by technology

Diffraction-limited performance can be achieved using precise shaping and polishing, but is often not achievable within the economic design constraints placed on the optical systems of many consumer products.

Typically, such systems have undesirable optical distortions or aberrations that are corrected using more than one lens group, commonly having spherical elements.

The system can be simplified by replacing several spherical lenses with a high-quality aspheric lens with a parabolic profile, but that generally adds cost to the system.

This approach inevitably makes the system bulky and inefficient, and unsuited to some applications.

It would be desirable to incorporate zoom lenses on small portable cameras, such as the type used with cellular phones, but the physical limitations of the small devices make the provision of a conventional zoom lens impossible.

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